Friday, you can never come too soon. After the crazy week it’s been, meditating was exactly where my time needed to go today. Between dealing with a pinched nerve I woke up with last Sunday to kick off a pretty full work week. I am glad it is Friday!

I chose to spend my meditation time outside today as the weather is just perfect! Sunshine and warm and no crazy wind like we’ve been having the last few days. It was incredibly refreshing and rejuvenating. Lot’s of good conversations happened this week both about the minimalist challenge and not, and sitting and being and thinking and mulling over it all was so, so good. And the sunshine was a welcome, warming, added bonus!

Honestly, nothing too crazy. A lot I need to keep for wedding prep. But it is still worth it to take a look thru and ask myself why it’s here.

Looking forward to some meditation tomorrow. And also Friday! Who’s with me? Hoping to get some wedding things done while the boy is here this weekend, like registering and finalizing our invitations, and I’m pretty excited!

Whew. Dresser drawers. DONE! Does anybody else out there have enough t-shirts to wear a new one every day for a month (maybe two…)? I hold on to so many of them because they are from events or organizations that hold a memory for me. But you know, I still have the memory without the item. But they have been greatly minimized.

I actually clean out my dressers drawers about every other month. So, while there was not a whole lot to begin with, I haven’t done it with this mindset before. I clean them out and get rid of what I don’t want, but make room for things I don’t need. So this time I asked myself the “want” and the “need” question, and the result is more space and a smaller number of items, but they are all items I really like.

Like this:

A while back I packed up my Honda CR-V and headed for North Carolina. And while I did leave some things behind with my parents (thanks, Mom and Dad!), I was amazed that I was able to fit everything I needed in my car (and I didn’t even use all that I brought). After coming back to Texas, I ended up throwing away virtually all of the stuff I had left in Texas and got rid of all that stuff in my car that I had not used. It went to second hand stores and (mostly) the garbage can.

It was incredibly freeing. After living for three and a half months with only what could fit in the back of my car, I didn’t want the burden and weight of possessions. It was a weird point of pride that I could fit everything I own into my car and be on my way in a day if the road called me.

Now, after living in the same place for two and a half years (too long if you ask me), things have accumulated. And I kind of hate it! SO! I am going to do something about it.I know the freedom that comes from not having so many material possessions. I have realized the weight of things and know what it feels like to be rid of them. And so to that end, I am going to challenge myself to get back there! Not only do I not like owning so much stuff, I will also be getting a jump on being ready for moving in with my forever roommate come this Fall!

The challenge:

For the month of April, I am going to minimize one aspect of my life each day. I have looked at a lot of different lists because, I know, this is no new idea. But ultimately, I am making a list that covers the areas that I want to see change as well as taking days for time to reflect, be still and process change and growth. (Also, a lot of lists I’ve found include the play room and kids toys, and you know, that’s just not a concern here.) And throughout the process, I will post here regularly about my progress.

My list is mostly done, but I am still thinking through and changing a few things while I compile 30 days worth of change/reflection/stillness/giving up/living free. So that will be coming soon! But in the meantime, I want to hear from YOU! Have you done anything similar to this before? Do you have any recommendations for things to go on the list? Want to do this minimalism challenge with me? What are things you can or want to minimize in your life?

Like this:

When life gets crazy or exciting or overwhelming or things change, I write. It’s always been this way for me. And so as an extension of this, I am going to have a weekly, “here’s a little bit of life”, post. From working in college ministry to life as a part time nanny. Date nights and soccer games on the weekends. Reading and drinking coffee and squeezing in a run. Just taking a moment to look back at what the week has brought me before plunging into that all so wonderful weekend!

Whirlwind week turned into a whirlwind weekend! I am currently en route to central Florida for wedding weekend. The trip out is going to be a bit rushed, but I am excited to get there and see everyone and then enjoy taking our time a bit on the way home. I already have a few stops in mind. Continue reading “A Week at a Time | 12/16/16”

Like this:

When life gets crazy and exciting and things change, I write. It’s always been this way for me. And so as an extension of this, I am going to have a weekly, here’s a little bit of life, post. I would love to say what this will include, but who knows! From working in college ministry to life as a part time nanny. Date nights and soccer games on the weekend. Reading and drinking coffee to cleaning the turtle tank and squeezing in a run. Just taking a moment to look back before plunging into the weekend!

This week is a start of some mellowing/forming of an almost routine in my schedule, I think. I hope. With the fall semester starting, the last couple weeks (months) have been all about college ministry. And they have been full to the brim with work (and squeezing in a long weekend in Cape Cod), and really, I have been loving it. So much planning and big picture work mixed with details and nitty gritty. It has been a continuous lesson in Continue reading “A Week at a Time | 9/16/16”

Like this:

My most recent long weekend trips to New York City have come at times when I needed them more then I realized. My eyes were opened to see that maybe I was beginning to approach travel not as a joy, but as a job. Also, being at a point of feeling slightly discouraged and a little aimless, I was so vividly reminded of what I want to pursue and what my work is for. Continue reading “Is Travel Worth It?”